Hosting a Zoom Events webinar with pre-recorded content

With simulive webinars on Zoom Events, you can reduce the amount of effort required to successfully run a Zoom Events webinar by using pre-recorded content from a previous Zoom Events session. Simulive webinars are helpful when you want to reuse content for a webinar, such as broadcasting marketing sessions, repeating your organization’s all-hands sessions across multiple time zones, delivering training courses, and more. You can create a single session or a multi-session event that has a mix of live and simulive sessions.

Simulive webinars allow hosts to select a saved hub recording as the content of a webinar. Simulive sessions will automatically start at the scheduled time, without the need for the host to be present. The host can still join and interact with the audience through live chat, resources, and Q&A.

Hosts can also configure the simulive webinar to automatically transition to a live session after playback. During the simulive playback, hosts and panelists can join the backstage area to prepare for the live portion. They receive visual notifications before the transition to live. Once transitioned, the webinar functions as a regular live session.

Notes:

• The option to upload a video to be used with simulive is available by request only, for eligible users in good standing with Zoom. For additional questions, contact Zoom Support to discuss whether this feature is available for your account.
• You can also create simulive webinars from the Zoom web portal if you have cloud recordings there.
• Learn more about the comparison of Zoom Webinars and simulive webinars.

Requirements for scheduling and hosting simulive webinar event types

• Pro, Business, Enterprise, or Education account
• Zoom Events Unlimited license or Zoom Events Pay Per Attendee license; or, Zoom Sessions Unlimited or Zoom Sessions Pay Per Attendee license

Notes:

• Pay Per Attendee (PPA) licensed users can use this feature only in their Zoom Sessions and Zoom Events. PPA does not allow users to use this feature on the Zoom web portal—they can only use it on the Zoom Events portal.
• For access to the latest Zoom Events and Webinar features, we strongly recommend hosts to update to the latest version of the Zoom desktop/mobile application.
• Zoom Rooms users can join simulive webinars as attendees or panelists.
• Hosts must update their Zoom mobile or desktop app to version 6.3.0 or later to join a simulive webinar. Panelists and attendees can join with any version.

Limitations of Zoom Events simulive webinars

• During the simulive phase, hosts and panelists cannot speak or appear on live video in front of webinar attendees and can only use the chat and Q&A features. However, once the simulive playback ends and the webinar transitions to live (if the option was enabled), all previously restricted features—such as video, audio, and full interaction—are enabled.
• Only the speaker view is selected in recordings, even if you recorded with multiple views.
• Hosts can’t add multiple cloud recordings to a single simulive webinar.
• Since simulive webinars start automatically, they do not support practice sessions. If backstage is used, access to backstage will begin at the scheduled time.

How to schedule a Zoom Events session with simulive capability

Create a single session

You can use the single-session full event type if you want to create a single-day event that contains a single-session webinar.

1. Sign in to Zoom Events.
2. In the left navigation menu, click the top dropdown arrow and select Across Hubs or a specific hub.
3. In the left navigation menu, click Events.
4. Click Create Event.
5. In the Blank Event card, click Create Event.
   The event configuration page will appear, and you will be directed to the event creation process:
   
   1. Fill out all required information.
   2. When selecting the event type, choose Single Session, then select Full.
   3. When selecting the session type you want to create, choose Webinar.
   4. Click Save and Continue.
      You will be directed to the rest of the event setup.
6. Complete your event’s details as needed by clicking through the tabs in the left navigation menu.
7. Click the Event Content section, then click the Session tab.
8. Under the session's Basic Info tab, complete the following actions:
   1. Under Webinar type, choose Simulive.
   2. (Optional) Select the Transition to live afterwards toggle to automatically transition to a live session once simulive playback ends.
      Note: To transition a simulive webinar to live, a host must be present at the time of the transition.
   3. Under Simulive recording, click the plus icon .
      Note: If the Transition to live option is enabled, the session duration will remain unchanged. Otherwise, it will automatically adjust to match the length of the content. If the webinar hasn’t transitioned to live yet, you can still manually adjust its duration.
   4. Choose a previously recorded Zoom Event from your hub, then click Add.
      A video thumbnail will appear, where you can play the recording to make sure you selected the right one.
   5. (Optional) In the top-right corner of the video, click the edit icon to change the recording. Click the trash icon to remove the recording.
   6. Complete the rest of the Session details as needed, then click Save.
9. (Optional) Under the session's Resources tab, create and edit resource links that direct attendees’ attention to your resources and provide more event information.
10. (Optional) Under the Polls and quizzes tab, set up questions with set answers or polling questions for the session.
11. Under the Captions tab, select the caption language that will appear for everyone in the session.
    Note: Default captions are based on your host settings, not the recording you selected. If you want to use a different caption for your recording, you’ll need to adjust the settings accordingly. 
12. In the top-right corner, click Publish Event .

The simulive session will start automatically at the scheduled time.

Create multiple sessions

You can use the multiple-session event type if you want to create a one-day or multi-day event that contains multiple tracks and sessions. For these events, you can have a mix of simulive and live sessions.

1. Sign in to Zoom Events.
2. In the left navigation menu, click the top dropdown arrow and select Across Hubs or a specific hub.
3. In the left navigation menu, click Events.
4. Click Create Event.
5. In the Blank Event card, click Create Event.
   The event configuration page will appear, and you will be directed to the event creation process:
   1. Fill out all required information.
   2. When selecting the event type, choose Multi-session event and choose between its 2 types:
      • All sessions have the same content: Show the date and time of each session to the attendee.
      • Sessions have different content: Show detailed information of each session (such as session title, image, and speakers) to the attendee.
   3. Click Save and Continue.
      You will be directed to the rest of the event setup.
6. Complete your event’s details as needed by clicking through the tabs in the left navigation menu.
7. Click the Event Content section, then click the Sessions tab.
8. In the top-right corner of the page, click Add Session.
9. Under the Basic Info tab, complete the following actions:
   1. Enter a session title.
   2. For the session type you want to create, choose Webinar.
   3. Under Webinar type, choose Simulive.
   4. (Optional) Select the Transition to live afterwards toggle to automatically transition to a live session once simulive playback ends.
      Note: To transition a simulive webinar to live, a host must be present at the time of the transition.
   5. Under Simulive recording, click the plus icon .
   6. Choose a previously recorded Zoom Event from your hub, then click Add.
      A video thumbnail will appear, where you can play the recording to make sure you selected the right one.
      Note: If the Transition to live option is enabled, the session duration will remain unchanged. Otherwise, it will automatically adjust to match the length of the content. If the webinar hasn’t transitioned to live yet, you can still manually adjust its duration.
   7. (Optional) In the top-right corner of the video, click the edit icon to change the recording. Click the trash icon to remove the recording.
   8. Complete the rest of the session details as needed, then click Save.
      More tabs will appear at the top next to Basic Info.
10. Complete the information in the subsequent tabs as needed.
    Notes:
    • On the session's More Controls tab, you can configure webinar Q&A settings, including auto-responses.
    • Under the Resources tab, create and edit resource links that directs attendees’ attention to your resources and provides more event information.
11. To add more sessions, repeat steps 7-10.
    Note: You can mix live and simulive sessions within a multiple sessions event.
12. In the top-right corner, click Publish Event .

The simulive sessions will start automatically at the scheduled time, but for any live sessions, the host will still need to join and start those sessions.

How to host a Zoom Events simulive webinar

Simulive sessions will start automatically, but hosts can still join the session to perform Q&A and chat. Additionally, hosts can transition a simulive webinar to a live session after the recording finishes playback. To enable this, hosts must turn on the Transition to live afterwards toggle during event setup and be present at the time of the transition.

Note: If you created a multi-session event that has a mix of live and simulive sessions, the live sessions will not start automatically.

Transition to live disabled

1. Access the Events page.
2. Click the Upcoming tab.
3. On the list of upcoming events, locate the event you want to join as the host of, and click Join Lobby (for multiple session events) or Join (for a single session event).
4. Follow the on-screen prompts to join the session.
5. The webinar will automatically end once the recording has finished playing.

Transition to live enabled

To host a simulive event and transition to a live session after playback ends, follow these steps:

1. Access the Events page.
2. Click the Upcoming tab.
3. On the list of upcoming events, locate the event you want to join as the host of, and click Join Lobby (for multiple session events) or Join (for a single session event).
4. Follow the on-screen prompts to join the session.
5. During the simulive playback, you and your panelists can join the backstage area to prepare for the live portion. You will receive visual notifications before the transition to live.
6. Once transitioned, the webinar functions as a regular live session.
7. (Optional) If your recording has extra content (like a long after show) that wasn’t trimmed, or if you decide not to continue with the current recording, you can start the live session early with these steps:
   1. In the top-right corner, click SIMULIVE.
   2. Click the 3 dots .
   3. Select Start live session early.
   4. Click Start now to confirm.
      This will end the playback early, and immediately starts the live session.

How to view Zoom Events simulive webinar analytics

Reporting for Zoom Events simulive webinars is the same as live webinar reports.

1. Access the My Events page.
2. Click the Past tab to locate your past events.
3. Next to the event you want to view reports for, click Analytics.
   You will be brought to a summary of the event’s analytics.
4. In the left sidebar, under the Analytics tab, click through the available analytics. Learn more about the available analytics information:
   • Summary
   • Registration & Ticketing
   • Sessions
   • Attendees
   • Expo
   • Exhibitors
   • Surveys & Polls
   • Video Gallery
   • Custom Report